Settling Personal Injury Cases

After you’ve experienced an accident, you typically file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.

You might assume you’ll go to trial, but your personal injury lawyer informs you that that’s not always the case. The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled before going to court.

There are many reasons why a personal injury claim may be settled, including saving time and money. Your lawyer will most likely advocate for resolving your case, so they don’t have to spend time themselves going to court.

Of course, if the case cannot be settled, your attorney will be prepared to represent you in court, so you achieve your desired results from your personal injury lawsuit.

It’s beneficial to learn why most personal injury cases are settled out of court so you can better understand how your claim may proceed. Each case is different, but your attorney can tell you what they think will happen, and they’ll fight to increase your settlement.

Have you been in an accident? If so, contact a personal injury attorney. They will have the resources and experience to help you win your case.

Reasons Why Most Personal Injury Cases Settle

Most personal injury cases settle before trial for a variety of reasons.

To Save Money

Going to trial can be expensive. Usually, attorneys take a percentage from your personal injury settlement amount.

However, if you go to court, this fee increases. Additionally, trials often include other expenses due to aspects like travel and time spent preparing for your case.

If you settle your case, you’ll have more money than if you go to court.

To Avoid a Lengthy Trial

Settling a case helps both parties avoid a lengthy trial. Trials can last weeks or months, meaning you’ll have to wait that amount of time before you get your award. Attorneys also avoid long trials, so they have more time to work on other cases.

To Protect Your Privacy

If you care about your public image and your privacy, then it’s better to settle your case.

Settlement negotiations are usually private matters. Meanwhile, courts are public, so your information regarding the case becomes public. The at-fault party might opt to settle the case, so their wrongdoings aren’t aired publicly.

To Reduce Workload

Often, personal injury lawyers aim to settle the case before it ends in court. They do this to reduce their workload. Trials not only take a lot of time but also require a lot of effort on the lawyer’s end.

For a trial, attorneys must collect evidence, such as medical bills and medical records, gather witnesses, and create a stellar case for their client.

While they’ll be happy to do that for you, it’s easier for you and them to avoid going to court.

To Admit Liability

When settling a case, the defendant may want to avoid blatantly admitting liability even if they’re at fault for the accident. This is so they can protect their image. Therefore, the defendant might opt to settle the case without going to court to avoid admitting fault while still paying out the plaintiff.

Benefits of Settling Your Case

There are many reasons why personal injury cases get settled before going to court, and several of these reasons are beneficial to you. For example, settling your case saves you time, money, and stress.

Another benefit is how your lawyer will help you maximize your settlement amount. When a case gets settled, the attorney will negotiate with the insurance company to increase your compensation. They’ll create a case for you, including proof of negligence and the cost of all your damages, to incentivize the insurance company to increase your settlement.

Finally, going to court doesn’t automatically mean you’ll win. Even with an experienced lawyer, there’s always a possibility of losing your personal injury case, which means you won’t receive financial compensation for your damages.

Settling a case means you’ll get at least some money, and your attorney will fight to maximize your settlement amount.

How to Maximize Your Settlement Amount

Just because your case is settled without going to court doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your settlement.

Here are some ways you can maximize your compensation:

• Gather evidence
• Seek medical attention
• Record your damages
• File your claim as soon as possible
• Don’t accept the first offer
• Contact a personal injury lawyer

Let An Experienced Attorney Handle Your Personal Injury Case

If you have more questions about settling your case or going to trial, contact a well versed personal injury attorney today to get started on your case.